Environmental Benefits

Environmental Benefits

• Waterpower is generated from a naturally replenished source which makes it a renewable and sustainable resource.
  
• Waterpower is considered the most widely-used form of clean and renewable energy.  Once constructed, its greenhouse gas emissions are effectively zero. 
  
• Waterpower generation provides peak and base load energy, which replaces non-renewable sources of power such as coal and gas. 
  
• Waterpower facilities can store energy (water) until it is needed at peak periods of usage.
  
• Waterpower power facilities are long-lived.  The average plant has a life expectancy of 80-100 years and can be rebuilt. 
  
• Waterpower has one of the most extensive Approval and Permitting processes that are based on over 100 years of development experience.  Click here for more on the Permitting and Approval Process.
  
• Waterpower technologies have advanced considerably in recent decades and are now built in a manner that mitigates harm to aquatic life and minimizes upstream inundation.  In fact, waterpower may be designed to enhance habitat for some species.